Apparatus for cleaning lubricant cases



Sept. 22, 1931. c. M. OLES APPARATUS FOR CLEANING LUBRICANT CASES Filed May 15, 192e a AU f n, 5 T... J -wwwa y, m 0 A d W a n mi@ M fw. ,W /M/ lPatented Sept. 22, 1931 CHARLES M. OLIES, F UNADILLA, NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR CLEANING LUBRICANT CASES Application led Hay 15,

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning lubricant cases, and aims among other objects, to provide an improved device of this character which is portable and com- @2 pact.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section', of the improved apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an end View of the same;

i@ Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken through the lower end of the pump and the associated parts and shown on an enlarged scale; and

y Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation, partly .mi in section, of the upper end of the pump shown in Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown a grease receiving container or tank and a cleaning fiuid container or tank 11, which are connected to a pump 12 adapted to create a vacuum in the grease tank 10 and pressure in the other tank 11, whereby the cleaning tiuid may be forced y under pressure into the case through a flexi- 25 ble conduit 13 to loosen the grease which 1s then drawn from the case through a exible conduit 14 into the tank 10.

, The tanks and the pump are herein shown as being combined into a single unit, which includes ond walls 15 and 16 and an intermediate wall 17 constituting heads for the tanks. rl`he tanks are preferably formed of sheet metal cylinders having their ends seated in suitable packing rings in annular grooves 18 in the walls, and ti'e rods 19 or 4the like passing through perforated ears in the heads, hold the parts rigidly in place.

To support the apparatus, a pair ot legs 20 are rigidly secured to or formed integral with the end walls 15 and 16, and in order that it may be moved about, ground wheels 21 are provided which, in the present instance, are journaled on a shaft 21B mounted in ears formed on one of the legs of each end wall. The wheels are so mounted as to be spaced from the ground when the apparatus is in operative position and when it is tilted, the wheels engage the ground and the legs are raised, thereby permitting it to be wheeled to any desired place.

1928. Serial No. 277,929.

The pump 12 is shown as com rising a tubular casing in which is mounte a piston 22 suitably packed so that suction and pressure may be created beneath the same on its up and down strokes respectively. The piston is mounted on a suitable piston rod 23 which extends through the top of the pump and is connected to an operating handle 24.

The ump casing is iigidl secured to an upstan lng extension 25 on t c intermediate 60 Wall 17, as by screw-threads or any other suitable fastening means, and is inclined so it may be easily operated. The device may be tilted and Wheeled about by using the pump as a handle and, as shown in Fig. 2, the pump is inclined toward the wheeled side, so that after the device has been wheeled into position and set up foruse, the operator is in proper position to use the pump.

opening 26 is provided in the exten- 70 sion 2 5 and intermediate wall 17 to provide a suction passageway between the grease receptacle 10 and the pump, which passageway is controlled by a suitable check valve 27. A second o ening 28 is also provided in the 75 extension, t rough which air pressure from the puml may pass to the receptacle 11, by means o a conduit 29 having a suitable check valve 30 therein.

The conduit 13 which is connected at one 80 end to the lower end of the tank 11, is pron vided at its other end with a valve controlled nozzle 31. The other conduit 14 is connected at one end to the upper end of the tank 10 and is provided at its other end with a exible metallic tube 32.

In order that the pump handle 24 may be held in its lowermost position at the bottom of its stroke while the apparatus is being wheeled about, there is shown a bayonet slot connection between the upper end of the pump cylinder and the handle (see Fig. 4). Herein, the connection comprises a grooved extension 33 on the pump cylinder head 34 and the opposite sides of this member are cut away so that a substantially C-shaped bayonet member 35 may be slipped over the cut-away portions and turned a quarter round to engage in the annular grooves 36, the arrangement being such that the handle will lo lie locked with its axis parallel with the axis ofthe wheels 21. In the operation of the apparatus,the tank 11 is filled with a suitable fluid, such as kerosene, b removing a plug 37 in the upper end thereo The plug is replaced and the nozzle 31 is placed in the case to be cleaned and the nozzle valve opened. When the pum is operated, air is drawn into the pump t rough the conduit 14, tank 10, passageway 26 and check valve 27, and is forced out throu the passageway 28, check valve 30 and con uit 29 into the tank 11, thereby placing the^kero sene under pressure to be forced into the case to thin the grease therein, so that it ma be easily withdrawn. After the grease has een thinned suiiiciently, the nozzle valve Ais closed and the nozzle 31 removed from the case. The tube 32 is then inserted, and .Whenvthe piimp is operated, the vacuum created in the tank will draw the grease through the conduit 14 into the tank 10, where it drops tothe bottom and is removed throughI an opening at the lower end of the end Wall normally closed by a plate 38. When the -pump isin operation to draw the grease from the case,

the operator may open a pet cock, 39 in the upper endof the tank 11, so that theair ressure created may exhaust to the'atmosp errefrom and allow the pump to work easily.

After the grease has been drawn case, the case may be thoroughly cleaned lby ate wall* a cleaning luidtank between the other end wall and the intermedia-te wall; the walls forming heads for the tanks; a pump casing rigidly secured to the intermediate wall; a piston in said casing; a passageway in the intermediate wall in communication with the grease tank and the suction side of the pump; a check valve in said passageway; a conduit connected to the cleaning iiuid tank and t the pressure side of the pump; a check valve in said conduit; a exible inlet conduit connected to the grease tank; a flexible outlet c onduitconnected to the other tank; and a valvein said outlet conduit.

3. In an a paratus of the class described the combination of a pair of tanks; a pair of end walls, each forming a head for one of the tanks an intermediate wall between the tanks to form a head lfor both tanks; a pump secured to the intermediate wall and having a suctionconnection with one tank and a pres- 'surewconnection with the other tank; and

flexible conduits leading from the tanks.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aIiXed my signature. 9 0

' CHARLES M. OLES.

repeating the introduction of kerosene under i pressure.

of the drawing, it will be seen that an improved apparatus has been provided which is From the foregoing description and alstiidy portable and compact and which will eiecportin legs on the end walls ground wheels Vcarrie l by one leg of each end wall and v adapted to engage the ground when the ap-l,` f. paratus istilted; a pump rigidly secured tof iio e tank between one end wall and the inter-v mediate wall; a cleaning iiuid tank :between 5 the other end wall andthe intermediate wall'; 'y

the wallsy forming heads for the tanks; sup- .the intermediate -wall and connected to create 'i lsuction in the ease tank and pressurein the' other tank, said pumpforming a handlefor moving theap aratus 'onfthe wheelsV when 0 tilted;` and a exiblelgeonduit connected to eachftgnk. .la p .1

24'A11'ep cases compi'sin ,incombinatiom a pair of end vwalls; an intermediate wall; a 35 tank between one eid wall and the intermedigrease paratus `forcleaning I lubricant 

